Description: Pygmy Cormorant status in Europe, Hungary and how to photograph it.
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German: Zwergscharbe French: Cormoran pygmée Italian: Marangone minore Czeh: Malý kormorán Hungarian: kis kárókatona Polish: Kormoran mały Slovakian: Malý kormorán Slovenian: Pritlikavi kormoran Serbian: Mali vranac Croatian: Mali komoran Romanien: Cormoran pitic Ukrainen: Баклан малий
Pygmy Cormorant breeds in south-eastern Europe and south-western Asia. It is partially migratory, with northern populations wintering further south, mostly within in its breeding range. It is a rare vagrant to western Europe. It is a medium-sized green-glossed black bird, 45–55 cm long and with a 75–90 cm wingspan. It has a long tail and short thick bill. Adults have small white feather tufts on the head, neck and underparts in the breeding season (see image 3 below). Non-breeding birds have a white throat.
The Pygmy Cormorant breeds colonially in wetlands with still or slowly flowing fresh water in coastal deltas and well-vegetated freshwater lakes. It builds a nest of grass and twigs in a low tree or reedbed, into which it lays its 3-6 eggs. Both parents incubate for 27–30 days, and nestlings become independent after 70 days.